Lecture Notes: Great Zimbabwe | World Civilization
Learning Objective
Understand the social structure, unique characteristics, and decline of Great Zimbabwe.
Introduction to Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city located in southeastern Zimbabwe.
It was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe during the Late Iron Age.
Construction began in the 11th century and lasted until the 15th century.
The builders of Great Zimbabwe are believed to be the ancestral Shona.
Origins and Growth
Construction of stone buildings started in the 11th century, continuing for 300 years.
Great Zimbabwe is one of the largest ancient structures south of the Sahara.
The city flourished between 1200 and 1500, linked to the decline of Mapungubwe.
At its peak, the population was around 18,000.
Economy and Trade
Great Zimbabwe was a trading center with networks extending to Kilwa Kisiwani and China.
The trade involved gold and ivory; over 20 million ounces of gold were extracted.
There was significant social stratification with archaeological evidence of imported goods.
The city had strong local agricultural trade, especially in cattle.
Architectural Features
Notable for advanced masonry techniques.
The ruins are divided into the Hill Complex, Valley Complex, and Great Enclosure.
Kingdom of Zimbabwe
Existed around 1220 to 1450, with Great Zimbabwe as the capital.
The kingdom taxed regional rulers and controlled ivory and gold trade.
Over 150 tributaries with their own minor stone structures.
Decline and Abandonment
Possible causes: decline in trade, gold mine exhaustion, political instability, and climate-induced famine.
By 1450, the capital was mostly abandoned.
Nyatsimba Mutota founded the Kingdom of Mutapa, which eclipsed Great Zimbabwe.
Post-Decline Successors
The Kingdom of Mutapa and the Kingdom of Butua emerged post-decline.
Eventually absorbed by the Rozwi Empire.
Key Terms
Kingdom of Zimbabwe: Medieval kingdom with Great Zimbabwe as its capital.
Great Zimbabwe: Ruined city and royal palace for local monarchs.
Shona: Bantu people who created empires on the Zimbabwe plateau.
Mapungubwe: Pre-colonial state in Southern Africa, precursor to the Kingdom of Zimbabwe.
Conclusion
Great Zimbabwe is a significant historical site with a complex socio-economic structure and substantial influence in regional trade and politics during its peak.